MV Ocean Life

Career

Name:	1981–1995: Lev Tolstoy 1995–1998: Natasha 1998–2001: Palmira 2001–2006: The Jasmine 2006–2007: Farah 2007–2010: EasyCruise Life 2010 onwards:Ocean Life
Namesake:	Leo Tolstoy (original name)
Owner:	1981–1995: Black Sea Shipping Company 1995–1996: Blasco IK 1996–2001: Black Sea Shipping Company 2001–2006: Mano Maritime 2006–2007: International Maritime Investement Co Ltd 2007–2009: EasyCruise 2010 onwards: Hellenic Seaways^[1]
Operator:	1981–2001: Black Sea Shipping Company (?) 2001–2006: Mano Maritime 2006–2007: Salam International Transport & Trading Co^[1] 2007–2009: EasyCruise 2010 onwards: Blue Ocean Cruises
Port of registry:	1981–1992: Odessa, Soviet Union 1992–1995: Odessa, Ukraine 1995–1996: Monrovia, Liberia 1996–2001: Odessa, Ukraine 2001–2006: Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2006–2007: Amman, Jordan 2007–2010:Limassol, Cyprus 2010–present: Valletta, Malta^[1]
Builder:	Stocnia Szczecinska im A Warskiego, Szczecin, Poland^[1]
Yard number:	492/02^[1]
Launched:	6 February 1981^[1]
In service:	October 1981^[1]
Identification:	Call sign: 9HGB9 IMO number: 7625809 MMSI number: 256935000
Fate:	Sold for Scrap
General characteristics (as built)^[1]
Class and type:	Dmitriy Shostakovich-class ferry
Tonnage:	9,878 GT 1,445 DWT
Length:	134.50 m (441.27 ft)
Beam:	21.00 m (68.90 ft)
Depth:	5.60 m (18.37 ft)
Decks:	9^[2]
Installed power:	4 × Sulzer 6 LZ40/48 diesels 12800 kW
Speed:	20 kn (37 km/h)
Range:	4,100 nmi (7,600 km)
Capacity:	350 passengers
General characteristics (currently)^[2]
Class and type:	Cruise ship (since 1 October 2010)
Tonnage:	12,711 GT
Speed:	17 knots (service speed)
Capacity:	550 passengers
Crew:	98

MS Ocean Life is a cruise ship owned by Hellenic Seaways. She currently operates for Blue Ocean Cruises, which began operations in late 2010.

Overview

She was built in 1981 as a Dmitriy Shostakovich-class ferry by Stocnia Szczecinska im A Warskiego, Szczecin, Poland as Lev Tolstoy for the Black Sea Shipping Company. She was third in a series of seven near-identical ferries built for various shipping companies of the Soviet Union. She has sailed under the names Natasha, Palmira, The Jasmine and Farah before being sold to EasyCruise in September 2007.

EasyCruise Life was the third ship to be operated under the EasyCruise brand. EasyCruise announced the ship would be launched in April 2008. The announcement came in September just a month after EasyCruise announced the cancellation of one of its ships, the EasyCruiseTwo. Unlike EasyCruiseTwo, the easyGroup trademark color - bright orange was kept to a minimum on EasyCruise Life. Instead walls were off white and mounted with large frames filled with photos of marbles, while the doors were black, white or a warm wooden brown.

EasyCruise Life became Ocean Life with Blue Open Cruise Lines, who are to operate her on a series of Indian coastal voyages.

Onboard services (with EasyCruise)

The amenities on and services on board the ship and like the rest of the fleet is designed to be "no frills". Most of the services and amenities provided on board the ship are not included in the fare and provided for a reasonable cost. Things like food and maid service cost extra.

For 2009, daily maid service is included in all rates. Prices also now include half board, with breakfast and either lunch or dinner available to guests.

Sold for scrap to Aliaga, Turkey in August 2014

Incidents

On her maiden voyage with Blue Open on November 18, 2010, with over 400 passengers and 134 crew on board the Ocean Life developed a crack on her port side 17 nmi (31 km) off of Goa. The ship started taking on water and began to list five degrees. The vessel was moved to Western India Shipyard for repairs.^[3]

References